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Canine Good Citizen

October 27, 2014 26 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. You won't pay a penny more, but you'll help keep It's Dog or Nothing running (websites are expensive!) and the floofs fed (they're even more expensive - as you well know) ;)

On Saturday, Atka was scheduled for his Canine Good Citizen test. I didn’t have high hopes for Atka. He has the ability to complete all the test items, but his puppy gets the best of him sometimes. I figured it would be a good learning experience and would help calm my nerves about the test. If you are not familiar, here are the 10 test items for CGC from the AKC website:

  1. Accepting a friendly stranger
  2. Sit politely for petting
  3. Appearance and grooming
  4. Walking on a loose lead
  5. Walking through a crowd
  6. Sit, down, and stay on command
  7. Coming when called
  8. Reaction to another dog
  9. Reaction to distraction
  10. Supervised separation

I knew we were going to have trouble with the items that include other dogs. We’re still working on perfecting his self-control so he doesn’t think he can greet every dog. I decided to get there about a half hour early to get us both in training mode.

When we arrived at the testing facility, I found out that another dog from our CGC class would be testing with us that day. It was nice not to be the only one testing! We both got busy working with our dogs and preparing for the test. After 10 minutes, the evaluators walked in. Without any introductions or explanations, we began the test 20 minutes early.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with Atka’s performance. He showed a little too much excitement around other dogs and people, but nothing that the evaluators felt he should be failed for. Phew.

It was interesting to see what the evaluators allowed and did not allow during testing. The other dog being tested lunged at another dog, jumped on the evaluator, and played tug with his leash during test items. I was under the impression that all of these actions would lead to failure.

In our CGC training class, we were told that we could encourage and talk to our dogs as much as we wanted. The fluffies respond very well to verbal praise and petting so I was sure to praise throughout the test. At one point, the evaluator told me I needed to stop talking to my dog. Not a big deal, I figured, we have hand signals.

During the down-stay, I told Atka to ‘stay’ and then walked out to the end of the long lead. As I walked away, I put my hand beside my leg and made the stay signal. Atka’s puppy brain needs a reminder every now and then! While this was encouraged in training, the evaluator wasn’t a fan. I got in trouble for that as well.

Finally, all the test items were complete. The evaluator looked up from her papers and said, “Well, you both passed”. Very monotone, no excitement, not even a congratulations. Instead, she told us all the things we do wrong in training.

She told me that there needs to be repercussions for not following a command or breaking a command early. She demonstrated how to do this on her dog who was wearing a choke collar.

Then she told me that I need to stop pampering my dog and falling back on treats in training. Atka should just do everything because I said so. Does she realize that’s not an effective method of ‘training’ for most dogs? Does she know pyrs?

After a few more insults to my training styles and dog parenting, she handed us our ribbons. At this point, I wasn’t even happy that we passed. I just wanted to get out of there before I said something I would regret.

This experience reminded me how many outdated methods are still promoted. AKC even updated the CGC guidelines to allow slip collars, including chain collars. If gentle leaders aren’t allowed, why is a chain collar?

I do plan to continue working on Mauja’s anxiety so she can pass her CGC test, but we will not test with the same evaluator. If the test was conducted outside, she would pass, but going into a building will stress her out. In the mean time, I’m going to continue working with Atka toward his therapy dog certification. I’ll do some research on that evaluator before enduring a miserable test again.

Have you taken the CGC test with your dog? What was your experience like?

Filed Under: Pyr Paw Around

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michele says

    October 27, 2014 at 4:51 am

    congrats! To be honest, once we realized the money goes to the aKc we refused. Not a big fan of that organization. Our rescue bulldog Ella gets many compliments on her sweet personality and good manners and that’s good enough for me. We also have a great time in our agility classes!

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:47 pm

      I want to sign the fluffies up for an agility class at some point. I think it would be a lot of fun!

      Reply
  2. Alix says

    October 27, 2014 at 5:55 am

    Sorry you had to go through that! I don’t think I would have been able to contain myself (or my mouth) if I was in that situation. I was just talking to a friend the other day about how I love my dog trainer, but that it’s still hard to find someone 100% positive reinforcement and how these outdated, aversive methods are still so common. I don’t understand how these horrible methods stay so popular still, but it makes me sad. Great job to Atka on passing though! I’m surprised the lunging, jumping, and tug was allowed as well.

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:48 pm

      Seems a bit odd, right? I hope we find a trainer that we love one day. Mauja’s puppy class instructor in California was fantastic. I miss her!

      Reply
  3. Sadie says

    October 27, 2014 at 6:52 am

    Wow, that sounds disappointing, after such an accomplishment! We’ve been to places that have only promoted positive training methods- what a surprise for that lady to tell you all the wrong things that you are doing with your dog. And no Gentle Leaders allowed?! But choke collars are? Oh my. We like Gentle Leaders and Martingale collars with the fosters and myself around here. I bet you are doing all the right things- this lady just needs to get a little refresher course in happiness, or something! But, congratulations to you two- I bet you did fabulous, and what an achievement! 🙂 In the end, as long as you and the dogs are happy, I think you’re doing great!

    I think we’ll be doing the CGC once I pass Obedience 2- I highly doubt my leash-walking would pass anyone’s test! 😛

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:50 pm

      I’m a huge fan of the Gentle Leaders. They work wonders for so many different kinds of dogs. Leash-walking is always a tough one! Mauja and Atka both still lose their manners ocassionally 😉

      Reply
  4. Kay says

    October 27, 2014 at 8:10 am

    Wow…that person sounds very “old school” indeed. I think the biggest misconception about dog is that they should do something “just because we told them to”. Our puppy class “trainer” sounds a lot like your tester…needs to move with the times…We are lucky to have switched to a trainer that believes building a good bond with your dog is the foundation of any training/obedience (whether that’s through play or treats). Hope your test test goes better and a big congrats on passing!!!

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:51 pm

      I completely agree. It’s all about the relationship, not just because I said so. Thanks for the congrats 🙂

      Reply
  5. April says

    October 27, 2014 at 9:51 am

    I’m working on this with Bain, our main issue is other dogs. He wants to be everyone’s friend, so hopefully we can Bains certificate one day as well.

    As far as the instructor goes. You can really tell someone enjoys their job, LOL.

    Glad you and Atka reached a great achievement. Paws crossed for Mauja next.

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:52 pm

      Other dogs always seems to be a tough one! Not being allowed to greet and play is tough for dogs to master, especially when they’re young.

      Reply
  6. jan says

    October 27, 2014 at 9:51 am

    congratulations on passing. Don’t let stupid old school humans get you down.

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:53 pm

      Thanks. I try not to, but it can be frustrating.

      Reply
  7. Emily @ Adventures of a Dog Mom says

    October 27, 2014 at 10:04 am

    Congrats on the CGC but I’m sorry it had to be given by someone with such rigid outdated methods. Here’s to the future!

    Reply
    • It's Dog or Nothing says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:45 pm

      Love the optimism!

      Reply
  8. SlimDoggy (@MySlimDoggy) says

    October 27, 2014 at 12:22 pm

    Interesting that the negative in this experience was not Atka, but the evaluator. Maybe that’s part of the test – to show no emotion, but I would think the opposite. Oh well, the good news is Atka passed – congratulations!

    Reply
    • It's Dog or Nothing says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:44 pm

      I would think so too. Oh well, at least we passed!

      Reply
  9. Pooch Smooches says

    October 27, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    Congrats on the pass – but what a bummer that is was such a negative experience. Ugh!

    Reply
    • It's Dog or Nothing says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:44 pm

      Some people 😉

      Reply
  10. Jan K says

    October 27, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    Congrats on passing, especially in spite of that irritating woman! We’ve never done formal training with any of the dogs until Luke, and I’m not sure we’ll ever go that far with him, as far as any kind of certification anyway. It’s such a great thing to do with your dogs though!

    Reply
    • It's Dog or Nothing says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:43 pm

      It really is! We’re going through the process to hopefully become a therapy team. I know Atka would just looooove that.

      Reply
  11. Tenacious Little Terrier says

    October 27, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    Congrats on passing but sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. If I’m reading the rules correctly, I think AKC allows martingales but not choke collars for the CGC. I signed up once to take a different training exam and the evaluator never showed up lol.

    Reply
    • It's Dog or Nothing says

      October 27, 2014 at 3:43 pm

      They recently updated their policy. They allow a “well-fitting buckle or slip collar made of leather, fabric, or chain”. : /

      Reply
  12. Miley's Daily Scoop says

    October 27, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    Congrats to Atka! Sorry you had such a debbie -downer as an evaluator. Be proud of all the two of you have accomplished! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Jenna,Mark “HuskyCrazed” Drady says

    October 27, 2014 at 7:54 pm

    Oh wow!!!! It is crazy how so many people still go by the “old ways” isn’t it???

    I am proud of you pups none the less though! Well done!!!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

    Reply
  14. Elaine says

    October 28, 2014 at 9:16 am

    Congratulations to you and Atka! There will always be someone who disagrees with you when it comes to dogs and training methods. Be proud of yourself and forget about the criticism. Great job Atka!! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Groovy Goldendoodles says

    October 28, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH – I still haven’t gone with Harley. I wanted to have both he and Leo tested after their Therapy test, but well, you know… So now I’m back on track and hope to get it done before the end of the year. I’ll keep you posted. I’m so happy for you –

    Reply

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